Disclaimer: you know me well.
Song of the Shadows: Chapter 5
Takako struggled to stay awake, and alive (during Golf- her muscles were still aching so terribly after all the running) in school. One more period to break! She stretched, and immediately regretted it after feeling the pain throbbing in her forearm. There had been no disturbance in the noises that surrounded her, but it still had the lingering muskiness of something stored away.
"Ne, ne, Mizune-san, you don't look very well today, is something the matter?" Hizumai, was it?
"A-ah?" Takako looked up, ignoring the sharp pain in her neck as she did so.
"It must be the new songs Mizune-san has to record, ne? Those must be placing a lot of pressure on her!" Was this… Mayaki?
"O-oh," Takako faltered.
You could tell them that you had to battle a coffee monster and that you got punished for losing control or something and that you ran all the way until three in the morning before you settled down and got ready for school, ne, Mizune-san?
"Ah… well, yes." Takako smiled. Idol privileges! "My manager, Araboshi-san, has been signing me up…"
Speaking of Araboshi, shouldn't we have a meeting today? What about that interview with the-uh- was it Mirage Weekly or March Weekly or?
Besides, my phone hasn't-
Wait, did I check my phone?
Takako paused, and swiped her phone out, only to see a dimmed screen- battery at 10%, please recharge!- and- and-
Missed calls from Araboshi Devil-san: 50
Messages: 20
"Ah… I'm really screwed this time, ne?" Takako sighed, quickly typing a message-
The sharp echoes of high-heels clicking impatiently against the ground caused Takako to cease her movements. The echoes were so loud and so- angry. Takako stared at the whites of her phone screen, taking in the word 'devil'. Was this the sound of a monster coming-? And the breathless panting- as though it couldn't help but feel so excited by the victims to feed on- breath and pulse quickening, fingers- (claws) aching to scratch at warm, silky skin-
She had heard enough, and it scared her.
"Ne, Mizune-san?"
"Ar-a?" Takako looked up into Mayaki's face, and grinned. "Nah, nothing much. Just… a few missed calls from my manager, and I thought he'd be mad-"
Mayaki nodded, as though she understood how Takako felt, and thoroughly empathised with her. Takako winked, and placed a finger to her lip. "Now, now, let's not tell anyone, shall we? Or I shall be in such a mess if Araboshi-san found out, ne?"
To Takako's surprise, Mayaki blushed, and a few people squealed. She hadn't expected such a reaction…
Wow, wait, what's going on? Don't tell me, I've leveled-up! Wow! Did I just flirt? Did I just flirt with Mayaki-san? Did I? Oh my god- I'm so confused but this feels so good so I'll take it as it is!
And it feels kinda nice to know that I'm slowly making my way up to OUTFLIRT HARUKA! MWAHHAAHHAHHA- wait- no-
"Class, I'll be your replacement teacher- for Karayaki-sensei. I'm Amuka-sensei." Saying so, the teacher- (was she the one with the heels?)- turned to the black board, and started writing her name down with chalk-
Takako flinched, and shut her eyes- covering her ears, she tried not to make too much of a fuss, but- the teacher- Amuka-sensei- she was- she was hurting- like scratching a nail against the black board- as though dragging the chalk across the black board was such pleasure that she could not be denied- crossing out every single person in this classroom-
What was she thinking, anyway? Takako took a deep breath and shuddered, hiding her head under her table. It must have been the lack of sleep. And the intense training. Why would a monster be teaching in school? Did she really hate school so much?
Still…
Takako raised her head as Amuka-sensei called her name, and tried to reply cheerfully. But when she had failed to, she found herself staring into a pair of dark, glazed-over eyes.
Amuka-sensei…
Amuka…?
There was something about the name that she couldn't quite grasp.
"Ah, Mizune-san, are you alright?" The strange look in Amuka-sensei's eyes were gone.
"Wow, Mizune-san must really be working hard on her songs!"
"I heard that her manager-"
"Araboshi-san, was it?"
"Yeah, that's the one- I heard he's really pushing her."
"Ne, ne, do you think we could get her another-?"
"What?"
"Well, Mizune-san is actually quite cute-"
"Stop dreaming, Ruko-kun!"
"And Nara-chan, stop adding on those strange ideas!"
"Don't tell me you weren't thinking of it!"
"Haruhi, don't you think-"
"That there's something weird about-"
"Takako Mizune?"
"Shush, Hikaru, Kaoru. She's probably just tired out."
"No-"
"Yes, Amuka-sensei, I am alright. Just a little dizzy, but it's nothing!" Takako called out loudly, trying to 'shame' those gossipers.
Amuka-sensei laughed- and Takako held her gaze, trying not to shudder or show any signs of discomfort at that horrible noise- like a strange fusion of wild bubbly orange and leering purple. Orange and purple? Okay, so maybe she really needed the sleep.
"Wouldn't want our favourite Song- I mean, singer- falling ill, no?"
Takako narrowed her eyes at the statement. Something was nagging at her, but she just couldn't place a finger on what it was! There was something weird about Akuma-sensei, and it made Takako wish that Akuma-sensei had never existed. Something so foul…
But Akuma-sensei had carried on with the lessons, so-
Takako stayed awake through the lesson, though she kept her eyes firmly glued to her notebook- the queasy feeling of being watched and analysed running down her spine.
0*0*0*0
"Mayaki-san, could you stay back a little now? I-ah- I would like to talk to you about your- well, extra credit assignment."
No doubt Mayaki looked a little shocked and a little uneasy, but she nodded and rearranged the tie on her dress. She looked around, just to see Takako running hurriedly out of the classroom, closely followed by- Hikaru and Kaoru?
"How strange, ne…?"
"Mayaki-san, how would you like to start?"
"Huh-?"
0*0*0*0
"I don't know how to say it. There's just something very strange about our new sensei- she just gives me the creeps."
Michiru's twinkling laughter chimed in the wind. Takako pouted, glancing at the little red flower (next to her) peeking out from under the grassy fields. Haruka ate her lunch silently, only occasionally grunting softly. Michiru and Haruka had been under the cherry tree when Takako found them. Of course, they had not noticed her at first- Michiru was practicing the violin, and Haruka was lost in the music.
"Do you really," Michiru muttered gently. "Hate this school?"
"Not really, no. It's just that…" Takako tried to smoothen the creases on her blazer. "It's just the replacement sensei that freaks me out, a lot. Do you think she could be related-?"
"Not now, Takako." Haruka finally said, as she rested her head on Michiru's shoulder and glanced off into the distance.
"Can you hear the wind rustling?" Michiru asked jokingly.
Takako swallowed, and dug her nails into the ground.
"I don't understand, I sensed a lot of weird vibra-"
"We have visitors, love," Michiru warned softly, staring into the same direction as Haruka.
Takako paused- and turned- a lump of red and blonde and brown hair was very, very apparent behind a tree. A face peeked out, and was quickly recognized.
"The host club," Takako said, to her guardians. "What are they-?"
"No doubt they are spying. They are… curious. About us. They've never seen people who are… different from their stereotypes."
"I'm sorry. But why didn't I hear them-?" Takako began, only to be interrupted by a very loud smack and Haruhi's screech.
"Well, you certainly heard that last holler, didn't you?" Haruka teased, shrugging. "You're tired, that's all. And you haven't been worked to your full potential."
"Ah. Do we do something about them?" Takako glanced down at the little red flower again.
"I believe that will be unnecessary, seeing as they're making their way here. Looks like everyone is here, ne, Ruka?"
"Why…?" Takako began, her fingers brushing lightly against the little red flower's petals.
"Curiosity. Or a game. No doubt they see it as one of their little… escapades to relieve them of their boredom. Mild fascination. I think we should go."
Haruka stood up and offered Michiru her hand. She seemed to be thinking about helping Takako up, too, but decided against it. The couple left quietly, leaving Takako to her thoughts- and her little red flower (yes, she had claimed it as hers). Takako heard the shuffling of feet getting louder, but ignored the slightly excited buzz as it started to intensify.
"A… game, huh," Takako echoed.
Really, a game?
Is that- all we are?
Fascinating little things-
Toys- for them-
for the rich to play around with-?
Is that what Haruka meant- the rich are more dangerous than any other demons-
"Tell me you're really just shy and curious, please." The host club froze as they heard the murmur that was meant for them. "Not just- a game, or a toy, or something you get fascinated with before you- you dispose of it."
No one spoke up.
The little red flower swayed from side to side, petals slightly drooping.
0*0*0*0
"Mizune-san, do you mind staying back a bit after class? I- I have something to talk to you about."
"…Yeah, Mayaki-san… What do you think of the host club?"
"W-well, they're really cute!"
"But it's their duty-" that word again.
"Yeah, they're supposed to serve the ladies, provide us with a little bit of- well, entertainment from time to time. Just like- umh, well- babysitters?" Mayaki tried giggling to relieve the tension.
Takako nodded, and stared at her hands, ignoring the burning gaze from three of the host club members on her forehead.
So we're all- puppets on a merry-go-round show-house, ne?